Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011)

While their friends and classmates passed summer days leisurely, a group of American and Japanese teens chose to spend several weeks in service to others as part of a Service Learning Exchange Program between the West Cook YMCA and the Saitama, Japan YMCA. Ten American and 13 Japanese teens traveled 8,780 miles to their respective destinations to participate in the month-long program, which began in mid-July. “This reciprocal cultural exchange program is an invaluable experience for all of these young people who represent the best of what youth has to offer our world from both countries,” said Jan Pate, West Cook YMCA president and CEO. Students, host parents and...

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